Smithers short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Smithers?

Smithers, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

Yes, in Smithers you can run a short-term rental in your principal residence with a Town business licence and a provincial registration number. It is allowed in a suite, carriage house or part of a house (maximum 40% of a house's floor area). The yearly licence is $260 for part of a dwelling or $365 for a whole unit.

Key facts

Allowed	Yes, as an auxiliary use in a secondary suite, carriage house or part of a single-detached dwelling (A-1, LDR-1, R-3, R-6, R-7 and the C-1A Residential Overlay), if the operator's principal residence is on the same parcel; the residence rule does not apply in the C-1, C-1A and C-3 commercial zones. Max 40% of a house's floor area. Smithers is on the Province's principal residence requirement list.Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.2 and 2.3, s. 2.3.1; Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Short-Term Rentals are permitted within a secondary suite or carriage house or a portion The principal residence of the short-term rental operator is located on the same Requirements established under 2.3.1 (a) do not apply to Short-Term Rentals not more than 40% of the total floor area (including basements and cellars) is used for Short-Term Rental Exemption established by section (2.3.1 (e) shall not apply to Short-term Rentals Radium Hot Springs Rossland Salmo Sayward Sicamous Silverton Slocan Smithers Sparwood Spallumcheen Stewart Sun Peaks Taylor
Business licence	Yes. Every short-term rental and B&B needs a Town business licence plus the STR/B&B checklist. Annual fee (Schedule J, class 2900): $260 for a rental from part of a dwelling or a B&B; $365 for an entire dwelling unit; $365 for the first of multiple units on a property and $105 for each additional unit. An extra location or unit may be an Auxiliary Business licence ($55).Sources differ: Conflict between sources: the Town's STR page (Oct. 2024 bylaw changes) says 'An annual license fee of $160 will apply to all STRs and B&Bs, with auxiliary licenses costing $50', and Schedule A of Business License Bylaw No. 1850 (consolidated Jan. 3, 2025) shows $160/year for class 2900. Section 7.1 of Bylaw 1850 says the classifications and fees are those in the Fees and Charges Bylaw, and Bylaw 2003 (the current fees bylaw) shows the higher amounts, so Bylaw 2003 is followed. Confirm with the Town at 250-847-1600.Business License Bylaw No. 1850 (consolidated January 3, 2025), s. 6.11(a); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule J, Schedule J, class 2900 and 3000 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording must obtain a Business License and complete an additional STR / B&B 2901 STR operating from a portion of dwelling unit or BNBs $260.00 / year 2902 STR operating from an entire dwelling unit $365.00 / year 2903.1 & $105.00 / year each 3000 Auxiliary Business $55.00 / year
Provincial registration	Yes. Hosts must register with the Province and display the provincial registration number. For new operations, the Town business licence must be obtained first, before applying to the Province for a registration number.Short Term Rentals, Short Term Rental page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording all new STR operations must first obtain a Town of Smithers Business License, before they apply to the provincial STR Branch for a registration number. STR operators must obtain and display a provincial registration number and a business license number
Operating rules	Put the licence number in every listing. Give two local contacts available by phone 24 hours a day during guest stays, living within 5 km. Comply with the Zoning Bylaw's parking and no-nuisance rules. Where the principal-residence rule applies: proof of permanent residency (mortgage, homeowner grant, title search under 30 days old, or owner's authorization), one STR unit per parcel, and Home Occupation rules.Business License Bylaw No. 1850 (consolidated January 3, 2025), s. 6.11(a), (d), (f); Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.2 and 2.3, s. 2.3.1(d), (g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording include the license number as part of their STR/B&B listing on various Proof of current mortgage details of two a day, during the duration of guest stay, and lives within 5 kilometres of applicable requirements established by the Zoning Bylaw, including In zones where the permanent resident requirement for STR / B&B use limited to one; concurrently, the permanent resident may operate a It shall not produce a nuisance for surrounding properties, including but not limited Must provide off-street parking in accordance with Section 2.10 of this bylaw;
Fine	Bylaw notice: $300 for an offence under the short-term rental section (Zoning s. 2.3) ($150 if paid within 14 days; $400 after 28 days), and $300 ($150; $400) for carrying on business without a licence. Court fine for a Business License Bylaw offence: up to $5,000 plus costs.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Zoning Bylaw No. 1987; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Business License Bylaw No. 1850; Business License Bylaw No. 1850 (consolidated January 3, 2025), s. 5.2(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Short time rentals 2.3 300.00 150.00 400.00 YES Carryon business without license 5.2.a.i 300.00 150.00 400.00 NO summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.00 and the costs of
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.3 (and 2.2 for B&Bs); Business License Bylaw No. 1850, s. 6.11; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule J.Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.2 and 2.3, s. 2.3; Business License Bylaw No. 1850 (consolidated January 3, 2025), s. 6.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Section 2.3 Short Term Rentals 2.3.1 Short-Term Rentals are permitted within a secondary suite or carriage house 6.11 Short-Term Rentals and Bed and Breakfast Operations (Bylaw 1978)

How it works

Smithers is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies. Under Zoning Bylaw No. 1987 (s. 2.3), a short-term rental is an auxiliary use in a secondary suite, carriage house or part of a single-detached dwelling in the A-1, LDR-1, R-3, R-6 and R-7 zones and the C-1A Residential Overlay, if the operator's principal residence is on the same parcel. The residence rule does not apply in the C-1, C-1A and C-3 commercial zones. A house may use at most 40% of its floor area, and only one dwelling per parcel may be used where the residence rule applies.

Every short-term rental and bed and breakfast needs a Town business licence under Business License Bylaw No. 1850 and the Town's STR/B&B checklist. B&Bs are covered separately (Zoning s. 2.2).

Steps

Check your zoning (see the zoning-lookup answer).
Apply for the Town business licence first, with proof of permanent residency where the residence rule applies (mortgage, homeowner grant, a title search under 30 days old, or the owner's authorization). A tenant may apply with the owner's written authorization.
Then apply to the Province for a registration number, and display it.
Put the licence number in every listing.
Have two local contacts, living within 5 km, reachable by phone 24 hours a day during guest stays.

Good to know

Annual licence fees are in Schedule J of the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003. The Town's STR page and Bylaw 1850 show an older $160 fee; Bylaw 2003 is the current fees bylaw. Confirm at 250-847-1600.
An additional location or unit may need an Auxiliary Business licence ($55).
Parking and no-nuisance rules in the Zoning Bylaw apply. The downtown parking exemption does not apply to short-term rentals.
The Town's page says the Province's maximum fines rose to $3,000 a day.
Bylaw notice: the Penalty amount is $300 for a Zoning s. 2.3 offence and $300 for carrying on business without a licence. Check the amount on your notice. In court, a Business License Bylaw offence can bring a fine of up to $5,000 plus costs, and each day is a separate offence.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Telkwa · Houston · New Hazelton · Hazelton · Granisle · Terrace

Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Short Term Rentals, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.2 and 2.3, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
Business License Bylaw No. 1850 (consolidated January 3, 2025) (PDF), Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule J, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
Contact Us, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.